Hand-bag.



B. ROSS.

HAND BAG.

uruouron Hum APR. 20, 1910.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

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BENJAMIN ROSS, OF EAST BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB T0 DOROTHY SESSER- MAN BOSS, 033 EAST BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

HAND-BAG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

Application filed April 20, 1910. Serial No. 556,518.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN Ross, a citizen of the United States. residing at East Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hand-Bags, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in traveling bags, and more particularly to a collapsible hand bag.

The object of this invention is to provide a hand bag which will normally present the same appearance and be of the same shape as the hand bags carried by ladies at the present time for general purposes.

The invention contemplates a construction which will be extremely useful in shopping or traveling whereby the capacity of the bag may be greatly increased when the occasion demands it.

The advantages of this invention are obvious, for the bag may be used at all times and will not only answer the purpose of the ordinary ladys hand bag, and, in this case will have the same appearance and will take up no more room than the ordinary hand bag when used as such, yet at the same time it may be increased in capacity whenever desired, so that in shopping or traveling a lady using one of these bags will not be compelled to carry in her arms a number of bundles which would not ordinarily be received in the ordinary hand bag.

While the preferred form of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawing, yet it is to be understood that minor detail changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof.

Figure l is a view in end elevation of the bag in its normal or closed position. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the complete bag in its closed or normal position. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in side elevation showing the bag partly extended. Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the bag in partially extended position with the opening extended.

The bag is preferably constructed of leather or some similar material possessing durability and flexibility, and is provided with a central opening in the top and handles 1 of preferably the same material in the form of straps having their opposite ends secured to the outer sides or ends of extremities 3 the bag. The opening is provided with a metallic frame 2 hinged at its opposite and provided with a snap catch t at its center.

The opposite ends 5 and 6 of the bag are oined to each other by flexible top, bottom and side members. The central opening extends parallel with the end members and entirely across the top of the bag and, in the closed position, the opening extends downward on each side about one-third of the distance to the bottom. The metallic frames 2 which surround the opening on each side thereof are of the same width as the top of the bag and are provided with right angular extensions corresponding with the openings in the sides of the bag and are hinged together at the bottom 3 of these openings, so that when the frame is unclasped a rectangular opening will be provided to the interior of the bag. In the preferable form the flexible top, bottom and side members are made in three separate sections. The central section 8 is of such width at the top that it may be secured to the ends of the pivoted members of the frame 2 and to the top members of the bag. It is preferable to slightly decrease the width of the central side section toward the bottom, and it is preferable to make the sides and bottom of this central portion in one piece. The sides and bottom of this central section are creased inwardly, so that when the frame opening is closed the portions on each side of the crease 9 will lie against each other.

The sections 10 forming the top and bottom members on each side of the central section are preferably made of one piece of material with its ends oined together at the bottom. The top of each of these side sections is secured at one end to the top of the frame 2 and at the other end to the top of the rectangular end of the bag. Thesides of each of these side members are secured at one end to the side of the rectangular end of the bag and at the other end to the corresponding side of the central section 8, and the bottom of each section is secured at one end to the bottom of the rectangular end of the bag, and at the opposite end to the adjacent portion of the bottom of the central section 8. The side sections are of the same width at the top and bottom and are preferably provided with three parallel creases 11, 12 and l3 extending entirely around the bag. These creases are equidistant so that when the ends of the bag are pressed inward, the portions on each side of the central crease 12 will fold inward upon the two other creases 11 and 13 and the portions of the material on each side of the creases 11 and 13 will lie against each other. With this accordion like extension on each side of the opening frame the capacity of the bag is greatly increased and by making the openings in the sides of the bag extending downward only about one-third of the distance, the bag may be readily opened and packed to its full capacity and will easily retain all of the contents in position without disturbing them when itis desired to close the opening. By making the central section separate and distinct from the side members, the bag may be opened and closed when used as the ordinary ladys hand bag without disturbing the relation or extending the side members.

hat I claim is In a handbag, satchel, grip or suitcase having an unobstructed interior forming a continuous receptacle, end members provided with handles, a transverse opening frame extending partially down each side, a

BENJAMIN ROSS.

lVitnesses:

J OE GOODMAN, MARGARET W001). 

